Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Trade and Investment. Will the minister update the House on his recent visit to China to discuss the China free trade agreement?

Mr Entsch interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Leichhardt is warned!

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is the minister aware of any Australian businesses who are already putting plans in place to capitalise on the opportunities created by the free trade agreement, and what risks are there to these opportunities?

Andrew Robb (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Wannon, who is a great advocate for trade and has done so much in this field already.

Three weeks ago I led a delegation of 35 chief executives to China to look at opportunities as a result of the free trade agreement. The delegation included Blackmores. Blackmores formalised a strategic partnership with JD.com, and they expect that they will see a tenfold increase in their sales to Chinese consumers.

They have already put on 100 jobs on the Northern Beaches in order to cope with the deal—

Ms King interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Ballarat will cease interjecting!

Andrew Robb (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

and what they expect to happen with the deal in future. Kimberley Kampers owner, Bruce Loxton, in Ballina, has big plans to export his caravans. He is doubling the size of his premises. He has a DA in to double the size of the premises and is adding 30 to 40 staff on the back of the free trade agreements.

David Larkin, the chairman of the Australian red meat industry, said in Beijing about this FTA:

It's a game changer and it's critical that we see it implemented quickly.

He said it is the biggest thing to happen in agriculture in 200 years.

The CEO of the National Farmers' Federation, Simon Talbot, was also part of the mission. He warned that if this thing is delayed, let alone stopped, it will cost Australian agriculture $300 million alone in 2016. He also said, 'Many agricultural producers and supply chains are gearing up in preparedness for the agreement being ratified. It's the centrepiece of significant agricultural expansion in Australia. We have only touched the tip of the iceberg in relation to the opportunity.'

There are many other examples, but it is interesting to look back and see the attitude of those in the leadership of the Labor Party, who clearly have embarrassed so many of their members sitting behind. We see what their real attitude is to trade. The Leader of the Opposition, for instance, who spoke at a workers' rally at the World Economic Forum some years ago, said 'Free trade is bullshit'. He said, 'They, the workers, know there is no such thing as fair trade. They only want their jobs.' That was his attitude. That is what his attitude—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Trade and Investment—

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was a quote!

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do not want the Treasurer interjecting if he refers to practice. A quote with an unparliamentary word is not a defence. I ask the minister to withdraw.

Andrew Robb (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade and Investment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw. What we are seeing is that all these opportunities and many more are being threatened in no order by a campaign of disingenuous, racist, misleading union and Labor activity. (Time expired)

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just before I call the member for Gorton, I wish to—

Mr Pyne interjecting—

Leader of the House, can I just finish what I was saying. I want to apologise to the member for Leichhardt. I warned him instead of the member for Lingiari. The member for Lingiari is warned.